Computer, Make It So

Since ChatGPT Voice arrived in Work and Codex in the desktop app yesterday, I have been putting it to work coordinating my Codex projects. It brought back fond memories of Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek. Wherever he was on the Enterprise, Captain Picard could simply speak to the computer and continue the work. That kind of immediate access to the ship’s AI always felt a little magical to me.

This morning, I found myself directing Codex agents through a routine that would have baffled my past self and, arguably, the hotel’s housekeeping staff. I had just finished showering and was getting dressed for a meeting. At the same time, I was speaking aloud to ChatGPT Voice, giving direction to the agents already working on my behalf.

I did not have to stop mid-button-up and return to the desk for every small coordination step. I could keep getting ready, give direction, and stay in the working conversation without touching the keyboard.

It was not quite the bridge of the Enterprise, but it may be the closest I have come to the Starfleet experience in a standard Hilton. The AI did not become a character. But the interaction felt less like operating software at a workstation and more like working with a capable assistant within earshot.

The screen still matters when the work needs visual attention, at least for now. I want this same experience to follow me beyond the desktop: first as a standalone experience on my phone, then through glasses that can carry voice and visual context in the same conversation.

I am writing this from the airport, about to board what is, for now, our version of the Enterprise: a machine that can carry me through the sky while the tools and conversations I rely on come with me. Picard’s future is still far away. This morning, it felt a little closer.

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This writing reflects my personal perspectives on product management, AI, and content discovery. It does not represent the official position of my employer or any affiliated organization.